The median value of a London property increased by £1,400 last year, whereas property prices across the rest of the UK rose by an average of £2,400.

Commenting on this recent data, Black Brick Founder and experienced London buying agent, Camilla Dell shared her thoughts to Emma Magnus of The Standard this week.

“Sellers are having to be very realistic and willing to sell at really big discounts in order to achieve a sale in the current market,” she reflected. “London will come back and now is a great time to buy prime assets. We have been amazed by how much prime stock there is to choose from at the moment, and there are quite a few people who need to sell to the extent that they are willing to sell at a loss. Others have owned their properties a long time and so they are willing to be pragmatic about price.”

Read the full article here.

In our latest feature in the press, Black Brick Founder & Managing Partner, Camilla Dell features in The Standard to offer her advice to home buyers looking to get the best deal for their budgets.

“Understanding why someone is selling is crucial to understanding how far you may be able to push negotiations,” Camilla said. “Do they have a mortgage on the property? How long have they been trying to sell for? What offers have they received previously (if any)?”.

She also added: “Have you told the seller why you want to buy their home? A personal touch can go a long way sometimes, think about including a note on why you love the property when you formally submit an offer.”

Read more in the full article here.

Instead of relief from stamp duty, the government today has promised to abolish stamp duty relief in their 2024 Spring Budget announcement.

This means that the Multiple Dwellings Relief, which was introduced to those buying more than one house in a single transaction, has now been taken away. Whilst it was initially intended to support investment in the private rented sector, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said that an external evaluation found “it was being regularly abused”.

Black Brick Founder and experienced property expert of over 20 years, Camilla Dell shared her reaction to this news in The Standard, calling the move “shortsighted”.

“Many of our buy-to-let clients purchase sic or more properties and benefit from lower rates of SDLT as a result,” she said. “They are providing much needed rental supply into the market and without this tax break it is yet another deterrent towards investment into the private rental sector. Not good news for tenants as fewer andlords results in higher rents.”

Read the full article here.

In a new report by The Standard, Black Brick Founder, Camilla Dell shares her consensus to the trends our buying agents most-noticed this year in the property market.

Read the piece here.

Increased mortgage rates and more homes on the market have enabled buyers to benefit from some pretty good discounts.

Commenting on the property trend in The Standard this week, Black Brick Founder & Managing Partner, Camilla Dell shared why she believes these discounts are occurring: because sellers are being too optimistic from the get-go.

“We are only seeing big discounts on property that was over-priced to begin with or on property that is seriously compromised. Good properties, that are what we love to call ‘best in class’, located on desirable streets and in turn-key condition, are selling well and often at or even above the asking price.”, she said.

Read the full article here.

Buying agent and Founder of Black Brick, Camilla Dell, featured in The Standard this week to share why so many the ultra-rich are selling off their properties are cut prices

Sharing insight into a current client of ours who is in the process of buying a house in Knightsbridge, Camilla said: “Its owner is a billionaire, he bought it at the peak of the market, and he put it on sale for significantly less than he paid for it. He is selling it for even less, because he just doesn’t need it any more. It is not just super-distressed sellers who are cutting prices.”

“Dell believes the rash of price-cutting is down to the fact that vendors have finally woken up to the fact that London’s prime property market is on the fritz.”, writes Ruth Bloomfield.

Read the full article here.

Black Brick Managing Partner and experienced property buying agent, Camilla Dell has shared her insights and advice to buyers in The Standard this week.

“Information is critical to be able assess price, ability to negotiate, timescales and whether there are any potential hidden reasons why you may not want —or be able — to buy that property,” she said. “It’s a very British thing to not ask and be polite, but buying a property is one of the most expensive things a person buys in their lifetime.”

Read the full article to learn more here.

Our Founder and Managing Partner, Camilla Dell revealed insight into the often hidden world of prime property this week, sharing her experiences of working with high-end clients in The Standard.

“Real luxury has to have top quality construction, materials, layout and design,” she said, adding that buyers particularly like the character of an older building combined with the convenience of a new-build.

“The combination of the charm and history of an older building with the comfort of a new build is another highly desirable design feature,” she continued. “Developments such as Battersea Power Station and The Old War Office are good examples.”

Read the full article here.